Symptoms of excess iron in the blood can be life-threatening

It is said that this is the dark side of iron for the body Symptoms of high iron stores that can cause many health problems So what are they? Symptoms of excess iron in the blood outside its normal range? What are the reasons for this situation? And how can it be treated? We will answer that in this article, dear readers, so follow us.

What is excess iron in the blood?

The most common disease or disorder caused by high levels of iron in the blood is hereditary hemochromatosis, in which the body consumes too much iron from food and so the excess iron is stored in the body’s organs, especially the liver, heart, and pancreas. Iron can cause serious, life-threatening conditions such as liver disease, heart problems, and diabetes .

Symptoms of iron overload

Symptoms of high iron stores may not be specific. Symptoms of excess iron in the blood often overlap with symptoms and other health conditions. Common symptoms are:

• joint pain
• stomach pain.
• weakness.
• fatigue.

In addition to the above symptoms, signs of the disease itself can include:

• Diabetic.
• heart failure;
• cirrhosis of the liver ;
• Loss of sex drive.
• ED .

When should a doctor be consulted?

You should see a doctor if you have any of the symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis, and if you have an immediate family member with the disease, ask your doctor about genetic tests that can determine whether you have inherited the gene that you are at risk for. disease increases.

Causes of high iron levels in the blood

Hereditary hemochromatosis is caused by a mutation in the gene that controls how much iron the body gets from food. These mutations are passed from parents to children and can be detected by genetic testing.

Factors that increase the risk of developing this disease include:

• Having two mutated copies of this gene is the biggest risk factor for infection.
• A family history of the disease, especially if a first-degree relative has the disease.
• Men are more likely to develop symptoms at an early age because men tend to store more minerals than women. Women lose iron during menstruation and pregnancy, but their risk may increase during menopause.

Treating high levels of iron in the blood

Treatment for the most common condition caused by excess iron in the blood, hereditary hemochromatosis, involves several methods and procedures.

blood collection

Doctors can safely and effectively treat hemochromatosis by regularly collecting blood outside the body as if you were donating blood. The goal of this procedure is to bring your iron levels back to normal. The amount removed depends on your age, general health, and the severity of the condition. It may take a year or more for your iron to return to normal.

Iron deprivation drugs

If a patient cannot have a blood transfusion due to anemia, for example, if you have a heart complication, your doctor may recommend medications to remove excess iron from your body. The medicine can be injected into your body or taken as a tablet. The drug binds to the extra iron so that the body can pass it through urine or stool.

Important tips to treat high iron levels in the blood

In addition to therapeutic procedures, there are some tips and procedures that will reduce the risk of complications, including the following:

• Avoid iron supplements and vitamins that contain iron, as they can increase your iron levels.
• Avoid vitamin C supplements , as they increase the body’s absorption of iron, so there is no need to restrict the absorption of vitamin C from food.
• Avoid alcohol, as it greatly increases the risk of cirrhosis in people with hemochromatosis.
• Avoid eating raw fish and shellfish, as people with high levels of iron are more likely to develop certain types of infections, especially those caused by certain bacteria found in raw fish and shellfish.